Why coffee chats matter
Nobody handed me a playbook. I applied to over 100 internships and learned that one conversation often mattered more than fifty cold applications. A coffee chat is not a formal interview — it is a short conversation to learn about someone’s role, path, and advice.
Before you message someone
- Research — Know their company and role in one sentence.
- Be specific — “I’d love 15 minutes to learn about your path into sales at Uber” beats “Can we chat?”
- Make it easy — Offer 2–3 time windows or ask what works for them.
What to ask
- What does your day-to-day actually look like?
- What did you wish you knew before your first internship?
- What skills made the biggest difference early in your career?
- Is there anyone else you’d recommend I speak with?
After the chat
Send a thank-you within 24 hours. Mention one thing you learned. Keep it short.
This is a draft from Ari’s experience — she’ll refine before final publish.
